Rotary scrubbing machine



Aug. 9, 1 932. H. A; ERIM 1,870,232

ROTARY SCRUBBING MACHINE Filed Jan. 31, 1929 hmmm-f HzZZEr H EfmmPatented Ang. 9, 1932 PATENT OFFICE HILLER A. BEIM, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOISROTARY soRnBBING MACHINE Application led January 31, 1929. Serial No.336,494.

My invention relates in general to improvements in rotary scrubbingmachines and has reference to that type of machine in which thescrubbing brushes are attached to a movable or wheeled structure uponwhich a motor and suitable gearing are provided to rotate the brushesover a surface to be cleaned.

My invention is directed mainly to newy andy improved means forsupporting the brushes and for driving the same.

Among the objects of the invention are to provide an improved form ofbrush ring for supporting the brushes and retaining them in position; to'provide an improved and highly efficient mechanism for supporting anddriving the brush ring unit and to generally improve the constructionand operation of the machine in such a manner Ias to facilitatemanufacture and render the machine more eiiicient and eective.

Further objects and features of improvement not specifically mentionedwill appear from a reading of the following detailed description.

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of the machine of my invention, being acomplete sectional view of the brush ring and driving parts and showingthe motor in full.

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the brush rino structure when removed fromthe machine.

Fig. 3 is a view looking down on the brush ring assembly when thatassembly is removed from the machine.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a brush.

Fig. .5 shows a view of the center part of brush ring structure 13showing the pin 12 and the key ways 14 and 15.

Referring to the above mentioned drawing, I have shown in F ig.u1 aframe or main structure comprising a metal case 1 which has 4a pair ofwheels (only one being shown), one on each side, and a handle which maybe attached to bracket 2. This casing 1 has a forward extension 3 ofdome shape which supports the brushk ring structure. A motor of anywell-known type is supported inside the rear end of the casing as shownand fastened to the bottom of the casing by bolts in the customarymanner. 'I he shaft et of this motor extends forward and carries a wormon its far end (not shown) which meshes in known manner with a worm gear5. A water tank of any desired capacity is mounted on the casing abovethe motor.

r1`he forward end of the casing 3 has in the upper part a bearing 6 anda rlb or ring 7. The shaft 8 of the brush ring structure is insertedinto the bearing 6 and carries the worm gear 5 rigidly secured thereto.The cup 60 shaped bracket 9 is fastened by screws to the rib or ring 7of the casing, and supports the entire brush ring structure. ln thecenter of the lower side of ythis bracket is another bearing for shaft8, and a packing ring 10, which screws into threads on bracket 9. Bothupper and lower bearings of shaft 8 are preferably ball bearings and, aswill be understood, the worm on the end of shaft a of the motor vmesheswith worm gear 5 inside bracket 9 0 to rotate shaft 8. The bracket 9 maybe filled with oil as desired for lubrication.

0n the lower end of shaft 8 is a ball 11 fastened thereto by screwthreads. This ball 11 has a pin 12 passing therethrough and eX- 75tending for a short distance on each of two sides of the ball. The brushring structure proper comprises a single casting and has a metal ring 13having down and inwardly turned edges as clearly shown in Fig. 1. Thering 18 has imitary therewith a metal webbing or horizontal structureformed in special design t0 act as supports for the brushes, and in thecenter'has a cup-shaped portion acting as a. bearingfor bail 11. On twosides of the cup are "key ways or slots 14 and 15, shown clearly inFigs. land .5, into which the ends of pin 12 are fitted. Each key wayallows vertical movement of pin12 but not lateral movement, the sides ofthese slots being engaged by pin 11 to communicate rotary movement ofshaft Sto brush ring 13.V This Vconstruction Vcomprises a. universaljoint which enables the ring to be rotated with shaft 8 but still allowsthe brush ring `95l to tilt sideways to a limited extent to take care ofunevenness in floors. Above the brush n ring is a bracket 16 which isinserted over shaft 8 before the ball 11 is screwed on. This bracket 16,as will be seen, completes the as- 6.0 pau' and adjustment.

Vsembly of the oint and by means of the bolts 17 and 18 the brush ringis secured to ball 11, bolts 17 and 18 being riveted in bracket 16.

5 Referring now especially to 2 Which shows the'under side of the brushring 13, I have shown two brushes heldin place in the ring and thenieansfor securing them. There are a pair of studs on the under side of thecasting which includes ring 13 at 34: and 35,

each of which has a spring clip mounted thereon, as shown, by means of abolt, Washer,

and nut. The spring 19, as shown, lies in its normal position and itstwo ends may be bent together to insert brushesas shown by spring WhichVhas been flexed together and then allowed to spring back to hold brushes21 and 22 in place. Each brush is 'formed as shown in Fig. 4, the back23 hav- 29 ing one straight edge With a groove 2-1 run- "i ningthroughout its length and a curved side having a shoulder 25 runningthroughout its length. Asr shown, the brush ring structure includes aseries of inwardly turned ribs such asas 26 and 2T behind which theshoulder 25 of a brush lits. As a further means of locating and holdingthe brushes, there are the ribs 28, 29, 30, and 31 so placed that oneengages the blunt end of the brush back as at 39,28r and another theflat side near they end.

"i Each rib thus spacesthe end and side of two brushes as shown at 29.The spring 20 when allowed vto return after thebrushes are insertedenters the groove such as 24 of each 35 brushV 21 and 22, thuseffectively locking two brushes in place. On a stud 32 is a similarspring 33, each end ofivhich engages a groove y in the lower end ofbolts 17 and 18 to lock them in place and forming a convenient 4c meansof removing the brush assembly as a Wholey from ball 11. l

It will be noted that the pointed4 end of each ofthe brushes 21, etc.,point in the same direction around the circumference. of the brush ringstructure, and that the structure isrrotavted in a clockwisedirection,refe rring toFig. 2, in a manner such as to utilize the shapeof the brushes above described to cause the pointed endA of each brushto draw Wash- 5Q ing fluid and powder toward the center of the brush tofacilitatel cleaning.

Itwill, therefore, be seen that the assembly including the brush ring 13and the brushes may be readily removed from the machine and replaced, oreach brush may be readily removed and replaced by merely compressing oneof the springs 19, 20, or 33. That the machine as a Whole has fewWorkingy parts and is readily accessible for ren. Furthermore, the

universal joint construction connecting shaft 8 With the brush ring forrotating it is novel in ysuch, a machine and comprises a simpleV andrugged construction giving the ring a` y slde motlon so'that it canfollow unevenness in floors and yet acting as an interlock so thatrotation of the shaft is communicated to the ring Without appreciablewear or noise.

Having fully described and ascertained the Y features and aspects of myinvention, VWhat I consider to be new and desire to have protected byLetters Patent Will be pointed out inthe appended claims.Y

What is claimed is:

1.V In a scrubbing machine, a brush carrier, a vertical shaft, av motorfor driving Y the shaft, the brush carrier secured to the lower end ofthe shaft and rotated therewith, said brush, carrier comprising a unitcasting and a plate for 'securing the casting to the endl of the shaftimmovable vertically thereon, said carrier and plate having only tiltingmovement relative to said shaft, a pair of bolts locking the brushcarrier and plate to the shaft, and a singley spring y engaging y tolock the assembly ence of the carrier, a single spring` holding tWo ofsaid brushes'in place, and meansfor rotating the carrier to movethebrushes pointed end first. Y

,In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 29th day ofanuary, D,

HILLER A.y 13111151.l

